Method of and apparatus for producing a felt-like fibrous material



March 8, 1960 C. J. NELSON METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING AFELT-LIKE FIBROUS MATERIAL Filed Aug. 8, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.|

ymcw- ATTORNEY March 8, 1960 c. J. NELSON METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FORPRODUCING A FELT-LIKE FIBROUS MATERIAL Filed Aug. s, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet2 MQE ATTO/ZNEY March 8, 1960 c. J. NELSON METHOD OF AND APP 2,927,350ARATUS FOR PRODUCING A FELT-LIKE FIBROUS MATERIAL Filed Aug. 8, 1955 3Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. 7 (Aw/e5 Ne/son ATTORNEY nit Charles J. Nelson,Troy, N.H., assignor to Troy Blanket Mills, Troy, N.H., a corporation ofNew Hampshire Application August 8, 1956, Serial No. 602,826

13 Claims. (Cl. 19-163) This invention relates to a method of andapparatus for producing a felt-like fibrous material.

One object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved method ofand apparatus for producing in a continuous manner a felt-like fibrousmaterial wherein the angularity between the fibers is controlled toimpart to the material predetermined tensile strength in diiferentdirections.

. A further and more specific object is to provide a novel method of andapparatus for producing felt-like fibrous materials wherein theangularity between the fibers may be controlled to impart to thematerial substantially equal tensile strength in any direction.

With these general objects in view and such others as' may hereinafterappear, the invention consists in the method of and apparatus forproducing a felt-like fibrous material and in the various structures,arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described andparticularly defined in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the present apparatus for producing a felt-likefibrous material in accordance with the present method;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation as viewed from the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation as viewed from the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a side elevtaion as viewed from the line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a detail view in side elevation of the edge combing mechanismfor removing the folded edges of the web;

Fig. 6 is a plan view detail of a Web offibrous material passing throughthe edge combing mechanism; and

Fig. 7 is a detail end view of a marginal edge of the web after beingcombed.

In general the present invention contemplates a novel method of andapparatus for producing a felt-like fibrous material. In accordance withthe present invention a sheet or veil-like web of carded fibrousmaterial is delivered to a continuously moving receiving apron of alapper. The carded web has its fibers disposed substantially paralleland extending in the direction of ad Vance of the web. The lapper isarranged to deposit successive folds or laps of the web on anaccumulating apron or conveyer arranged at right angles to the advanceof the carded web, the accumulating conveyer being arranged to travel ata rate of speed such as to dispose successive laps of the Web diagonallyacross the accumulating conveyer in crisscross relation as it isdeposited on States ten Patented Mar. 8, 1960 extending substantially atright angles to each other and preferably at an angle of slightly lessthan as measured at the apiees of the triangular patterns adjacent themarginal edges of the two-ply web.

In accordance with one feature of the present invention the foldedmarginal edges of the two-ply web arethen removed, preferably by acombining action as distinguished from a cutting or shearing action,whereby to provide a two-ply web of substantially uniform thicknessacross the full width thereof. The web may then bev subjected to alongitudinal drawing or stretching operation as it is advanced,preferably continuously, to dispose the fibers in adjacent webs at anangle of slightly more than 90 at said apiees, the two-ply web thenpreferably being advanced on an adjoining conveyor at a relativelyfaster rate to accommodate the increased length; of the web effected bythe drawing operation. In the illustrated apparatus the adjoiningconveyer advances the drawn web to a second lapper which depositssuccessive folds or laps of the web on a second or final accumulatingconveyer preferably arranged at right angles to the advance of thetwo-ply web. operation the second accumulating conveyor may advance at arelatively slow rate so as to build up a multi-ply web or batt of thedesired thickness. Thereafter the multiply web is preferably subjectedto a compressing and longitudinal drawing or stretching operation whichis arranged to dispose the fibers of adjacent webs at substan tiallyright angles to each other and then the web is-- subjected to a needlepunching operation preferably from.

both sides of the web. As a result of combing the marginal edges of thetwo-ply web to remove the folds therefrom the multi-ply web produced isrendered more uni-.-

material in staple form is placed in a standard weighing and feedingdevice of known structure indicated diagrammatically at 10 and which isarranged to deliver successive weighed loads ofthe staple fibers to aconventional single doifer Garnett or carding machine indicatedgenerally at 12. The Garnett machine is arranged to deposit the cardedfibers on a continuously moving slatted apron or conveyer 14 formingthereon a single layer or veil-like web 16 of the fibrous material withthe fibers arranged substantially parallel and extended in the directionof advance of the conveyer 14. The veil-like Web 16 is delivered by theconveyer 14 to a lapper, also of conventional construction and which isindicated generally at 18, having conventional slatted top and bottom.aprons 20, 22 arranged to deposit the carded web 16 to betweenreciprocating guide rolls 24, 26 and thence to the upper surface of aslatted accumulating conveyer '28 travelling in a direction at rightangles to the advance of the single layer web 16, and guide rolls 24,26, the' path of the web being indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2.

The accumulating conveyer 28 is arranged to be driven In practice forcontinuous 45' it willv be seen that'the apex adjacent the marginal]edge of each triangular pattern will be slightly less than 90* so" thatthe individual fibers of adjacent laps are arranged diagonally incrisscross relation at such angles? I In practice it is preferred toadjust the speed of the accumulating conveyer 28' with relation. to therate of deposit of the" webonto the accumulating" conveyer such as: to"produce triangular patterns having apex angles adjacent opposed marginaledges of the two-ply web of between 74" and 78. It will be apparent thatsuch angular disposition may vary with difierent relative speeds ofthe-lapping mechanism and the accumulating conveyer when differentwidth'sof two-ply webs are produced, the important feature being that atwo-ply web is formed having triangular patterns with the leadingmarginal edge of one diagonal lap coinciding substantially with thattrailing marginal edge of a previously deposited diagonal lap whichextends in the same diagonal direction.

The. general construction of the garnetting machine 12 and the lappingmachine 18, including the driving mechindi'c'ate'd' generally at 32, maybe of conventional form; and the drivingmechanism may include anelectric motor" 33 connected by a belt 35 to a shaft 37. The 1 39 to aconventional traversing gear housing 41 for operating the upper andlower'tra'versing aprons. The construction and operation of suchmachines are well known, as indicated in the United States patent to-Rundle'tt, No.- 1-,9-78,3'5'5, issued October 23, 1934, so that adetailed description of such machines and the drives therefor is deemedunnecessary for understanding the present invention.

In" the continued operation of the apparatus, as illustrated in Figs. 1and 3, the two ply triangular patterned webso havin folded marginaledges 44, 46 is transferred from the accumulating conveyor 28 to' edgecombing mechanism indicated generally'at 36 and which includesarelatively large diameter driven roller 38 of'a length slightly lesstha'n'the width of the two-ply web and a pair-of cooperating weightedidler rolls 40, 42, one at each-end of the roller 38 with the outer faceof each idler-"roll disposed flush with the ends of the roller 38. Inoperation'asthe two-plyweb is passed between the rollers the foldedmarginal edges 44, 46 of the web 'e'xtending'beyond the ends of theroller 38 are subjected to= a combing operation, as indicatedin detailin Figs. 5- and' 6, to remove the folded edges, thus eliminating theincreased thickness normally occurring at such folds. As herein shown,the combing action may' be performed by a vibratory doft'er comb 48which maybe actuated by conventional eccentric vibrating mechanismindicated generally at 50in Fig; 5 and driven by a belt connection froma motor 52. As also indicatedin Fig. 5, each idler roll 40, 42, one ofwhich. is shown, maybe ina shaft. 56. journalled in a bracket 58attached. to a transverse. girt 60' which may be supported. betweenstandards 62 upon which the eccentric vibrating mechanisms. 50 aremounted. As illustrated in 6. and 7;. the

combing; operation removes the. folded edges leaving a.

will; be described. The waste material; removed from dividnall'ysupported on an arm 54 pivotally mounted on;

speed of the first pair of. drawing rollers.

the edges may be received into the open end of a suction pipe indicatedat 64 to be carried away from the machine. In practice the surface speedof the large roller 38 corresponds to the linear speed of theaccumulating conveyer 28, the path of the material being indicated bydotted lines in Fig. 3. The driving mechanism for the roller 38 of thecombining mechanism and for the accumulating conveyer 28 includes avariable speed drive mechanism indicated generally at 87 and having anoutput shaft connected by a chain and sprocket drive 88 to anintermediate shaft 90 which in turn is connected to a shaft 92 on: whichthe drive pulley for the accumulating conveyer 28 is mounted. The shaft92 is in turn connected by a chain and sprocket drive 94 to a shaft 96upon which the large diameter roller 38 of the combing mechanism ismounted, the driving connections thus far described being arranged todrive the accumulating conveyer 28 andthe roller38 at correspondingrates of speed to advance the two-ply web at a uniform rate.

From the description thus far it will be seen that a two-ply lapped Web30 is produced having successive 'laps arranged in triangular patternswith the fibers of one ply disposed at an angle of about 78, forexample, with relation to the fibers in the other ply as measured at theapices of the triangular patterns adjacent opposed marginal edges of.the two-ply web and that the web is then transferred from theaccumulating conveyer 28 to the edge combing mechanism 36 which isoperative to remove the folded edges. Thereafter the two-ply web ispassed between drawing mechanism" indicated generally at 66 arrangedtostretch the two-ply web a predetermined amount as" it is continuouslyadvanced therebetween in order to increase the" angular relationshipbetween the fibers in adjacent plies of the web so as to measure morethan 90' at said apices, preferably about for example, such stretchingbeing performed to accommodate a subsequent drawing operation in adirection atri'ght angles to the movement of the two-ply web through thedrawing mechanism 136 to bring the angular relationship of the fibersback to substantially 90 or at right angles to each other.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, the drawing mechanism is disposedimmediately beyond the edge combing mechanism and comprises a first pairof upper and lower'rolls 6 8, 70 arranged to be rotated'at a surfacespeed substantially corresponding to the linear speed of theaccumulatingconveyen'and a second pair of upper and lower rolls 72, 74spaced a short distance from the first pair of rolls and arranged to berotated at a relatively faster surface speed so as to eifect the drawingoperation as the web passes between the two pairs of rolls. As indicatedgenerally in Fig. l, in. the driving mechanism for driving the variousassociated elements provision is madefor driving the lower rolls of eachpair of rolls 68, 70 and 72, 74 at different speeds and also foradjusting the driving'mechanism to vary the speeds whereby more or lessdrawing tension may be applied to the web as it passes between the twopairs of rolls. As herein shown, a main driving, housing 76 includes anelectric motor 78 and gear reducing mechanism having an output shaft 80connected by a chain and sprocket drive 82 to a variable drive mechanismof. any usual or prefer-red type indicated. at 86. As herein shown, theoutput shaft 84 ofv the variable speed mechanism is connected by a chainand sprocket drive 98 to a shaft 18.3 on which the lower roller"70 ofthe first pair of drawing rollers is mounted so as to drive suchfirstpair of drawing rolls at a surface speed corresponding to. the advanceof the web from the accumulating conveyer and the. combingmechanism. 'Itwill be seen that the adjustment of the variable speed. drive to varythe speed of the shaft 84 will vary the The upper and lower rolls 68',70 may rotate in opposite directions by frictional; engagement of theupper roll with the lower, the upper .roll being supported so that theweight of d the same will be against the lower roll. The second outputshaft 194 of the variable drive mechanism may be connected by a chainand sprocket drive 106 to the shaft 108 on which the lower roll 74 ofthe second pair of drawing rolls is mounted so as to drive the secondpair of rolls at a relatively faster surface speed to effect the drawingoperation and which may be adjustably varied to effect more or lessdrawing action as required. The upper and lower drawing rolls 72, 74 mayalso rotate in opposite directions by frictional engagement of the upperroll with the lower.

As above described, the drawing operation is preferably arranged tostretch the web longitudinally a predetermined and accurately controlledamount so as to increase the angular relationship of the fibers ofadjacent webs of the two-ply web from about 76 to about 110 as measuredat the apices of the triangular patterns formed by the lappingoperation. The web is then transferred to a receiving conveyer or runoutapron 112 of a second lapping machine indicated generally at 114 whichmay also be of any usual or preferred construction and which includesupper and lower traversing aprons 116, 118 as, shown in Fig. 3, arrangedto deposit the two-ply web between guide rolls 120, 122 onto a secondaccumulating apron or conveyer 124 travelling at right angles to thedirection of advance of the two-ply web being deposited thereon. Thelapping machine 114 is also preferably driven through connections fromthe second output shaft 104 of the variable drive mechanism which mayinclude chain and sprocket drives 126, 128 to the runout conveyer 112and a belt drive 130 to the transversing gear box 132 so that inoperation adjustment of the variable drive to change the speed of thesecond pair of rolls 72, 74 will vary the speed of the associatedlapping machine elements correspondingly to accommodate the increasedlength of the drawn web during its continuous advance.

For continuous operation the accumulating conveyer 124 is arranged totravel at a relatively slow rate of speed with relation to the rate ofdeposit of the two-ply web thereon so as to build up a multi-ply batt orweb of substantial thickness with the transverse edges of successivelaps relatively close together as indicated at 134 in Fig. 1. Asillustrated in Figs. 1 and 4, the multi-ply batt 134 is then passedthrough conventional compressing and drawing rolls, indicated at 136,which may be driven through variable drive mechanism, indicatedgenerally at 138, to efiect compressing of the batt and longitudinalstretching thereof in a direction such as to dispose the fibers of eachof the several plies at right angles to each other as indicated at 140.As a result of such right angle disposition of the fibers of the web thetensile strength of the web is rendered substantially equal in alldirections. As above described, and as illustrated in Fig. l, thetwo-ply web being deposited on the conveyer 124 is made up of triangularpatterns wherein the fibers in adjacent plies are arranged at 110relative to each other as measured at the apices of the triangularpatterns. It will be observed that the multi-ply web or batt 134 is madeup of closely lapped increments of the two-ply web having their variousadjacent plies arranged at 110 at the apices of the triangles, or withthe fibers of adjacent plies crossing each other at complementary anglesof 70. Thus, as the multi-ply batt is continuously advanced at rightangles to the direction of advance of the two-ply web and passed throughthe drawing rollers indicated at 136 in Fig. 4, the triangular patternswill be elongated longitudinally of the multi-ply batt to change theangles at the apices thereof from 110 to 90, thus decreasing theangularity of the fibers relative to each other. The conventionaldrawing and compress ing unit 136 driven through the variable'drivemechanism 138 is capable of adjustment to vary such elongation to eiiectmore or less drawing action as required.

The compressed web is then transferred to a slatted feed apron orconveyer 142 which delivers the multi-ply web to a first needle punchingmechanism of conventional form, as indicated at 144, to perform a needlepunching operation through one side of the web. The continuouslyadvanced web is then guided downwardly under idler rolls 146, 148 andthen upwardly and through a second needle punching mechanism, indicatedat 150, wherein a second needle punching operation is performed throughthe opposite side of the web. The construction and mode of operation ofthe above-mentioned needle punching are well known, and detaileddescription thereof is deemed unnecessary. The completed felt-likefibrous web is then guided upwardly and over idler pulleys 152, 156 andthen downwardly to a windup device indicated at 158. The needle punchingmechanisms 144 and may be driven through individual driving unitsindicated generally at 160 and 162 respectively, each driving unitincluding an electric motor 164 belted to a variable speed mechanism 166of any usual or preferred form and which in turn is connected by a belt168 to its respective needle punching mechanism. Thus, the speed of eachneedle punching mechanism may be varied to accommodate the feed of theweb from the lapping machine 114.

. In the operation of the illustrated apparatus the: relative speeds ofthe lapping machine 114 and the accumulating conveyer 124 are such as toprovide a thickness of about nine layers of the two-ply web in lappedrelation, thus forming a completed web ofeighteen plies in thickness. Itwill be observed that the slightlydiagonal transverse edges 134 ofsuccessive laps of the web being built up on the relatively slowlymoving accumulatingconveyer 124 comprise the combed edges of the two;ply web, and in accordance with one .featureof the invention such combededges when passed through the compressing rolls 136 become moreuniformly compressed and blended with adjacent portions of the web toproduce a unitary felt-like web of substantially uniform thickness anddensity and with a substantially uniform distribution of fibers. If suchfolded edges were not removed, the transverse edges would form distinctlines in the multi-ply web. Furthermore, if such edges were trimmed inthe conventional manner, such as by shearing, the fibers of the two-plyweb along the marginal shear line are squeezed togetherQand duringsubsequent lapping to build up the multi-ply web, such shear lines wouldalso cause uneven distribution of the fibers resulting in slight butnevertheless visible transverse lines in the completed felt-like web.Formation of these objectionable lines are avoided by the presentcombing operation. It will also be apparent that the controls for thespeeds of the various associated elements may be adjusted to produceother angular dispositions of the fibers in the completed web wherebythe tensile strength in one direction may be greater than that in adirection at right angles thereto if desired.

From the above description it will be seen that the present novel methodand apparatus is adapted to produce a superior felt-like fibrousmaterial of substantially uniform thickness and density and which isfurther char-- acterized by a balanced and controlled orientation of thefibers so that the completed product'may have equal or different tensilestrength in different directions.

While the invention has been described in connection with the productionof a needle felt it will be understood that other felt-like materialsmay be produced, including fibrous materials which have been felted orneedled or pressed.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been hereinillustrated and described, .it will beunder-w stood that the inventionmay be embodied in otherforms within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is: 1. In acontinuous method of producing a felt-like fibrous material, the stepscomprising: advancing. av

single continuous length of a thin fibrous web having.

a majority of its component fibers extending longitudinally thereof andin substantially parallel relation,

then subjecting the web to a firstlapping operation by,

' angular portion of the previously deposited lap forming a-two ply webin a series of triangular patterns, regulating the rate of conveyormovement with relation to the speed ,with which the. increment lengthsare deposited sons to maintain the trailing diagonal edge of onelapsubstantially coinciding, with the leading edge extending in the samediagonal direction of a previously deposited lap, and then subjectingthe two-ply web to a second lapping operation at right angles to thefirst lapping operation forming a relatively thick web having relativelyclosely spaced laps, the webs being continuously moved during theentiremethod, compressing the relatively thick web and: elongating thesame to change the angularity of the fibers in adjacent plies, and thensubjecting the relatively thick web to a needle punching operation tomaintain thev angular relationship of the plies.

'2. In: a'continuous method of producingv a felt-like fibrous. material,the steps comprising: advancing a single continuous length. ofv a thinfibrous web having a majorityv of its component fibers extendinglongitudinally there of and in substantially parallel relation, thensubjecting the web to a first lapping operation by depositing successiveincrement lengths of the single continuous web on. an accumulating;conveyer moving. in adirection at right angles to the advance of thethin fibrous web and moving. the successively deposited increments on.said accumulating conveyer to form. a series of laps with. the trailingand leading edges of successive laps extending in opposite diagonaldirections and with a triangular portion of a succeeding lap overlying atriangular portion ofthe previously deposited lap forming a two-ply webin a series of triangular patterns, regulating the rate of: conveyermovement with relation to the speed which the increment lengths aredeposited so as to main tain. the trailing: diagonal edge of onev lapsubstantially coinciding: with the leading edge extending in the samediagonal direction of a previously deposited lap, elongating the two-ply'web. after the first lapping operation to change the relativeangularity' of the fibers in. adjacent plies,xthen subjecting: thetwo-ply web toa second.

lapping operation at right angles to the first lapping operation forminga relatively thick web having, relatively, closely spaced laps, and thenelongating the relatively thick .web after thesecond lapping operationto again change the angularity between the fibers of. adjacent plies ina direction at right angles to said first elongation, the websbeingic'ontin'uouslymovecl during the entire method.

3. In acontinuous method of producing a felt-like lib-- rous. material,the steps comprising: advancing a single continuouslength ofa thinfibrous web having a majority of its component fibers extendinglongitudinally thereof and insuhstantially parallel relation, thensubjecting the webm a first lapping operation by depositing successiveincrement'lengthsof the angle continuous web on an. ac-

cumulating conveyer moving in a direction at right angles to the:advance of: the thin fibrous web and moving; the

' successively deposited increments on said accumulating.

conveyer to form a series of: laps with thetrailing and leading edges ofsuccessive laps extendingin opposite diagonal directions and with. atriangular. portion of asuc-' ceeding lap overlying a triangular portionof the pre-. vion'sly deposited. lap forming a two-ply webin 3.,S8l'lESof triangular patterns, regulating the rate: of conveyor u movementwithrelation to e speed with which the increment lengths are deposited so asto maintain the trailing: diagonal edge of one lap substantiallycoinciding with the leading edge extending in the same diagonaldirection of a previously deposited lap, the relative movement duringthe first lapping operation being regulated so that the fibers of oneply extend at an angle of slightly less than with relation to the fibersof the second ply as, measured at the apex of one of thetriangularflpatterns, elongating thetwoply web to increase theangularity or the fibers in the first and second plies of the two-plyweb to slightly more than said 90", then subject-ingthe two-ply web to asecond lapping operation at right angles to the first lapping operationforming a relatively thick web having relatively closely spaced laps,and then elongating the relatively thick web in a direction at rightangles to said first elongation to decrease such angularity to about 90,the webs being continuously moved during the entire method. 7

4. The method as defined in claim 3 wherein the relavely thick web afterthe second lapping operation and elongation is compressed and subjectedto a needle punching operation to maintain the angular disposition ofthe fibers as produced by said second elongation.

S. The method as defined in claim 3 wherein the movements of the two-plyweb and of the relatively thick web,

are continuous with the movement of the thick web at a slow raterelative to the'movement of the two-ply web.

6. Apparatus for producingra felt-like fibrous material comprising, incombination, means for forming and advancing a veil-like web of cardedfibrous material having the fibers. thereof arranged substantiallyparallel and extendedv in. the direction of advance, a lapper having anaccumulating conveyer arranged at right angles to the lapper and drivenat a relatively fast rate to cause successive laps'ofthe web to bedeposited in opposed diagonal directions to form a two-ply web intriangular patterns with the fibers in one ply arranged diagonally withrelation to the fibers in its adjacent ply, means for combing themarginal edges of. the two-ply web to remove the folded edge portions,means for drawing the web to change the angular relationship of thefibers of adjacent plies, a

second lapper having a receiving apron arranged to travel at anincreased speedto accommodate the increased length of the drawn web, andhaving an: accumulating apron at right angles to the second lappertravelling at a relatively slow rate to cause successive laps of the webto build. up a .multi-ply web of. substantial thickness, and compressingand drawing rolls through which the multiply web is passed to againchange the angular relationship of the-fibers in adjacent plies.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein provision is made forneedling the web to produce a felt-like fibrous materialof.substantially uniform thickness and density, said provision for needlingthe web including a plurality of closely spaced needles reciprocatedthrough the web to force some of the fibers vertically into the body ofthe multi-ply web to lock the fibers together and to maintain theremaining fi'bers'in the angular relationship effected by the seconddrawing operation. I

8. Apparatus as definedv in claim 6 wherein said first lapper isarranged to dispose the laps in a manner such that. the initial diagonalrelationship of the fibers of successive laps is slightly less thau90"as measured at the apices. of said triangular patterns; wherein thefirst drawing means is constructed and arranged to effect arrangement ofthe fibers in adjacent plies at an angle of slightly morev than:9( asmeasuredv at said spices; and wherein the compressing and drawing rollsare constructed and arranged to 'eiiect arrangement of the fibers ofadjacent webs substantiallyat right angles to each other whereby toproduce a felt-like fibrous material having substantially equal tensilestrength in all directions. I

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein the combing means includes aroller arranged to support the web 9 with the folded edges extendedbeyond the ends of the roller, a pair of hold down rolls cooperatingwith the ends of the supporting roller, and a vibratory comb on eachside of the web arranged to remove the folded edge portions as the webpasses between said rolls.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein the first drawing meanscomprises two pairs of driven feed rolls arranged in slightly spacedrelation, one pair of feed rolls being rotated to provide a surfacespeed corresponding to the linear speed of the first accumulatingconveyer, the second pair of rolls being rotated to provide a relativelyfaster surface speed to efiect the drawing operation.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 which includes variable drivingmeans operatively connected to drive the accumulating conveyer and thefirst pair of rolls at one speed, and to drive the second pair of rollsand the receiving conveyer of the second lapper at a faster rate ofspeed.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 which includes means for selectivelyvarying the drawing operations to produce a final web having apredetermined tensile strength in any direction.

13. Apparatus for producing a felt-like fibrous ma terial comprising, incombination, means for forming and advancing a veil-like web of cardedfibrous material having the fibers thereof arranged substantiallyparallel and extended in the direction of advance, a lapper having anaccumulating conveyer arranged at right angles to the lapper and drivenat a relatively fast rate to cause successive laps of the Web to bedeposited in opposed diagonal directions to form a two-ply web intriangular patterns with the fibers in one ply arranged diagonally withrelation to the fibers in its adjacent ply, means for combing themarginal edges of the two-ply web to remove the folded edge portions,means for drawing the Web to change the angular relationship of thefibers of adjacent plies, a second lapper having a receiving apronarranged to travel at an increased speed to accommodate the increasedlength of the drawn web, and having an accumulating apron at rightangles to the second lapper travelling at a relatively slow rate tocause successive laps of the web to build up a multi-ply Web ofsubstantial thickness.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,108,354 Fowler Aug. 25, 1914 2,381,184 Ripley Aug. 7, 1945 2,565,647Brown et al Aug. 28, 1951 2,566,922 Brown et al Sept. 4, 1951 2,710,992Goldman June 21, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 26,637 Great Britain of 1898259,957 Great Britain Oct. 20, 1927

